Effective sunrise (6:10am) on April 15, 2013, all waters of the New Jersey State return to their prior shellish classifications. This re-opening includes the waters of Raritan Bay, see adjacent map. This week's tissue sampling in Raritan Bay met the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) standards, with the exception of one sample that failed by a very small margin. Based on a consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, warmer water temperatures that allow shellfish to purge bacteria, and a rapid reduction in coliphage numbers, the DEP’s Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring determined that the beds are acceptable for re-opening. The shellfish in Raritan Bay are also required to purify in a depuration plant, where they set for several days in a controlled purge environment that provides an additional level of safety, just as they did before Superstorm Sandy.

Partial Re-Opening Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Sandy Hook Bay (12/14/12 update)
Effective sunrise
(7:12am) on December 15, 2012 all of the New Jersey waters within the Sandy Hook Bay represented by the following depuration areas 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, and 11D (view adjacent map) are open to their prior shellfish classification.The Department has determined through monitoring of water quality and shellfish tissue that these areas are now safe for the harvesting of shellfish in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:12 et seq. Coliphage is an indicator of the possible presence of viruses in shellfish tissue; shellfish tissue samples were taken in the Sandy Hook Bay on 12/13/12. The results of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis taken from Sandy Hook Bay met the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams (see table below). To view the Administrative Order, click here.

Partial Re-Opening Waters to Shellfish Harvest: Navesink River and Shrewsbury River (12/7/12 update)
Effective sunrise (7:06am) on December 8, 2012 all of the New Jersey state waters of the Navesink River and Shrewsbury River (from point A located at 40°23'46.14" N 73°58'51.42" W to point B located at 40°23'45.32" N 73°58'38.89" W, see adjacent map) are open to their prior shellfish classification. The Department has determined through monitoring of water quality and shellfish tissue that these areas are now safe for the harvesting of shellfish in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:12 et seq. Coliphage is an indicator of the possible presence of viruses in shellfish tissue; shellfish tissue samples were taken in the Navesink River, Shrewsbury River and Sandy Hook Bay on 12/6/12. The results of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis taken from Navesink River and Shrewsbury River met the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams (see above table). To view the Administrative Order, click here.

Middlesex and Monmouth County Stations (12/7/12 update)
The results of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis taken from Sandy Hook Bay failed to meet the NSSP criteria (see below table). The Department will not be able to re-open the Sandy Hook Bay to shellfish harvest at this time. The Department will continue to regularly monitor water quality and shellfish tissue sampling in Sandy Hook Bay. Please read the 12/4/12 update below for more information on the Sandy Hook Bay and Raritan Bay.

Middlesex and Monmouth County Stations (12/4/12 update)
Monmouth County Stations (12/4/12 update) Coliphage is an indicator of the possible presence of viruses in shellfish tissue; shellfish tissue samples were taken in the Navesink River and Shrewsbury River on 11/30/12. The results of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis taken from Navesink River (Sites K, L & M) failed to meet the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams (see below table for results). The results of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis taken from Shrewsbury River (Sites N, O & P) were within range of the NSSP criteria. The Department will not be able to re-open the Navesink River and Shrewsbury River to shellfish harvest at this time. Although passing, the Shrewsbury River levels were very close to the criteria, and it is not feasible to open just the Shrewsbury River due to concerns of resource depletion. Water quality remains good in the area, the maximum result was 20 cfu/100ml (as seen by results from 12/3/12 in bottom table) and shellfish tissue samples will again be collected on 12/6/12 in Sandy Hook Bay, Navesink River, and Shrewsbury River; results from this test will be available on Friday afternoon.

Water quality results of the Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay from 12/3/12 meet the fecal coliform criteria. The Middlesex County Utilities Authority (MCUA) operates the Sayreville pump station which pumps sewage to the MCUA sewage treatment plant. The Sayreville pump station was severely damaged during Hurricane sandy and is now operating on temporary pumps until a permanent repair is completed. The temporary pumps periodically bypass untreated sewage and discharge directly to the Raritan River as a result of wet weather and other complications. As a result of these discharges of sanitary sewage the Department will not be able to re-open Raritan Bay until permanent repairs are completed. MCUA estimates that permanent repairs will not be completed until March 2013. Interim improvements to the temporary pump capacity are planned. The Department will continue to sample water quality in the Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay to monitor any impacts from these continuing discharges.

Monmouth County Stations (11/29/12 update)
The results of shellfish tissue coliphage analysis taken from Sandy Hook Bay (Sites H, I & J) on 11/28/12 failed to meet the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) criteria of 50 PFU/100 grams. Coliphage is an indicator of the possible presence of viruses in shellfish tissue. As a result, the Department will not be able to re-open the area to shellfish harvest at this time. Water quality remains good in the area and the Department will resample tissue next week.

The tissue sample from a single location (west of the Oceanic Bridge, Site G) within the Navesink passed with a coliphage level of 42 PFU/100 grams (the standard is 50 PFU/100 grams). However, additional samples will be collected with help of the industry on 11/30/12 in the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers. If results meet the criteria in the NSSP, then it is likely that all or a part of the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers will be re-opened to their prior classification.

Middlesex and Monmouth County Stations (11/20/12 update)
On 11/14/12, USEPA was asked to sample water in the Washington Canal area, close to the discharge from MCUA’s Sayreville pumping station. The results confirm that raw sewage was being released to the area. The fecal coliform levels range from 1,110 to 102,000 CFU/100ml in the area of the active discharge. These results demonstrate the need for the public health advisory to stay out of the water in the vicinity of the discharge.

Middlesex and Monmouth County Stations (11/9/12 update)
Monmouth County Stations include the Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay, Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers. These waters are primarily classified as Special Restricted and Prohibited with a small area of both the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers classified as Seasonal.

Monitoring of these waters began on November 1, 2012. Monitoring results indicate that the area continues to exhibit high levels of fecal coliform bacteria. The maximum result was 1100 cfu/100ml; the minimum result was <10 cfu/100ml. The most recent results from November 6, 2012 show a general improvement in water quality with some results within Sandy Hook Bay (stations 6, 7, & 8) within the criteria for Approved waters. The fecal coliform criteria for shellfish classification for Approved waters is <14 CFU's/100mL and for Special Restricted waters is < 88 CFU's/100mL.

The NJDEP is sampling today (11/9/12), and plans to sample again on November 10, 2012. While water quality trends do show improvement and some stations are meeting water classification criteria, the NJDEP cannot consider re-opening shellfish harvest in this area until Middlesex County Utilities Authority ceases the discharge of untreated wastewater into the Raritan Bay. At this time MCUA is working to get treatment back on-line. Currently they are discharging ~ 50 mgd of untreated wastewater into the Raritan Bay. Once treatment is back on-line, the NJDEP will begin the process of re-opening the area to previous classifications and shellfish harvest.